[61] Maitland reads thus: IN CHRISTO. MARTYRIVS VIXIT ANNOS XCI PLVS MINVS ELEXIT DOMVM VIVVS. IN PACE.--“In Christ. Martyrius lived ninety-one years, more or less. He chose a home during his life-time. In peace.” [62] Collegium salutare Dianæ et Antinoi, constitutum ex Senatus Populique Romani decreto, quibus coire, convenire, collegiumque habere liceat. Qui stipem menstruam conferre volent in funera, in id collegium coeant, neque sub specie ejus collegii nisi semel in mense coeant, conferendi causa unde defuncti sepeliantur. [63] The _sesterce_, or _sestertius_, was about 2d·5 farthings, the _as_ about 3d·4 farthings. The _amphora_ held about six gallons. [64] Muratori, tom. ii, classis vii, _Collegia Varia_. [65] _Ibid._ [66] Trajan regarded with suspicion even fire brigades and charitable societies, (Pliny, X _Epis. 43 et 94_,) and forbade the assemblies of the Christians, but permitted the monthly contribution of the clubs--Permittitur tenuioribus stipem menstruam conferre. _Digest._, xlvii, 22, 1. [67] Modicam unusquisque stipem _menstrua die_, vel quum velit, et si modo velit, et si modo possit, apponit: nam nemo compellitur, sed sponte confert.... Nam inde non epulis ... sed egenis alendis _humandisque_ ... etc. Tert., _Apol._, c. 39. [68] See first footnote. [69] _Bullettino_, 1864, 62. [70] Rom. xvi, 5, 3. [71] _Philosophoumena_, ix, 11. [72] Actorem sive syndicum, per quem, quod communiter agi fierique oporteat, agatur, fiat.--_Digest._, iii, 4, 1, § 1. [73] E veramente che almeno fino dal secolo terzo i fideli abbiano possiduto cemeteri a nome commune, e che il loro possesso sia stato riconosciuto dagl’imperatori, è cosa impossibile a negare.--De Rossi, _Rom. Sott._, tom. i, p. 103. [74] The dreaded _crimen majestatis_. [75] Hostes Cæsarum, hostes populi Romani. [76] Non pluit Deus, duc ad Christianos.--Aug., _Civ. Dei_, ii, 3. [77] Si Tiberis ascendit in mœnia, si Nilus non ascendit in arva, si coelum stetit, si terra movit, si fames, si lues, statim, “Christianos ad leones.”--_Apol._, x. “But I pray you,” he adds, “were misfortunes unknown before Tiberius? The true God was not worshipped when Hannibal conquered at Cannæ, or the Gauls filled the city.” [78] Eusebius describes their activity in bringing wood and straw from the shops and baths for the burning of Polycarp. _Eccl. Hist._, iv, 15. [79] Ergo abolendo rumori Nero subdedit reos et quæsitissimis poenis affecit, quos per flagitia invisos vulgus Christianos appellabat.... Et pereuntibus addita ludibria, ut ferarum tergis contecti laniatu canum interierint, aut crucibus affixi, aut flammandi atque, ubi defecisset dies, in usum nocturni luminis urerentur.--_Ann._, xv, 44.